Thursday, March 28, 2024

Man sentenced to 40 years with hard labour

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A man of Petauke district in Eastern Province has been sent to 40 years imprisonment with hard labour for defilement by the Chipata High Court.

Facts before the court were that Sydney Chilambwe on May 25, 2017 had canal knowledge of a minor below the age of 16 contrary to the laws of Zambia.Chilambwe was committed to the high court for sentencing after being convicted by the Magistrate Court.

In mitigation, Chilabwe through Senior Legal Aid Counsel John Phiri said he was a first offender who was remorseful and regretted committing the offence.In sentencing Chilambwe, High Court Judge Conceptor Zulu said she had considered what was said in mitigation but that the offence that Chilambwe committed is a serious one.

She then sentenced him to 40 years imprisonment with hard labour effective from the date of his arrest.

Meanwhile, a man of Chipata district has been sent to 11 years imprisonment for trafficking in psychotropic substances.
Facts before the court were that, Isaac Phiri on March 21, 2018 did traffic in psychotropic substances namely marijuana weighing 1.8kg without lawful authority contrary to the laws of Zambia.

In mitigation, Phiri through Senior Legal Aid Counsel John Phiri said he was a second offender who readily pleaded guilty which was a sign of remorse.In passing sentence, Judge Zulu said he had considered what was said in mitigation but took note that the convict was a second offender who was in 2017 convicted by the Chipata Magistrate Court for a similar offence.

She then sentenced him to 11 years imprisonment with hard labour effective from the date of his arrest.

12 COMMENTS

    • In Zambia, there is one law for politicians and their groupies, and another for the ordinary citizen.

      Both jail terms are excessive!

      As much as I deplore defilers, 40 years with hard labour is excessive.

      Having said that, I hope this will deter others.

      The problem is that such harsh sentences are almost always imposed on the poor.

      The 11 years sentence for possessing less that 2kg of herb is madness!!!

      The dogs have really come to Zambia.

    • People who are a danger to society deserve incarceration. Next time we put the little boy there please NEVER let him out. I mean if he repeats the nonsense he did in Mongu.

  1. It is ridiculous filling up prisons with people who have done no harm to anyone. In Europe for such small amounts one only gets fined and at most 1-2 years in prison. Zambian judges are useless sure.

  2. Senior Legal Aid Counsel John Phiri representing the two guys its like he is a useless lawyer like …….. (donot ask me which one)…. a tip he reprented a widow and what happened, he eat the money for the widow. kikikikikiki!!!!!!!!!!!

    • Go and report him to LAZ then. do not just scandalise pipo for nothing. In the same session some pipo got 3 years and 5 years for manslaughter. Do u also blame him for that? Was he the one sentencing? Moron!

  3. Defilers are a danger to our daughters! However the sentences in both cases are too heavy. Though the age of defiler isn’t stated, He will come out of prison a complete gabbage.

    There was a case of defiling involving one chinondo in Lusaka, the man feared for his reputation to be dented, ended up striking a deal with parents of the girl to build them a mansion. And he did and case didn’t come to attaention of the public.

  4. Kangaroo courts, what can we expect? Prisons must be places to keep people as a punishment but rehabilitation centers. The idea must always be that we try to change these people because punishment does not help and only make them worse as they are completely deprived of their basic human rights in prison. I hope both convicts will reform and readmitted into society as changed men.

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